Tailor Store goes 100% CO2 neutral

This is how we think - if all businesses were to become carbon-neutral, we could build an environmentally sustainable society together. We at Tailor Store are taking an important step in that direction now by compensating for our entire carbon dioxide emission through reforestation of rain forest in Sri Lanka.

With the help of external expertise, Cambridge Partners and Satis Arnold, we have defined our carbon footprint including everything from production of fabrics, production of garments, transport of raw materials and finished goods and it adds up to 1146 tonnes of CO2 in 2012. Our footprint assessment will be updated annually, and we will fully offset these emissions by reforestation of rainforests in southern Sri Lanka in an area adjoining the world heritage Sinharaja and Kanneliya protected forests. For the purchase of the VER (voluntary emission rights) and the actual execution of the reforestation, we co-operate with Conservation Carbon Company in Melbourne, Australia, and its Sri Lankan country partner Rainforest Rescue International in Galle. Since the offset programme is intended to last over a long period of time, both CCC and RRI are committed to not only plant trees but also look after and maintain the forest in the future.

The reforestation will be conducted according to the principles of analog forestry. We will only replant naturally occurring, threatened and endemic species that are locally appropriate. Designs for watershed management and biodiversity conservation, including habitat enhancement through linking of areas of reforestation with existing rain forests, will be implemented as well.

The first symbolic trees were planted by Jan Höjman, CEO, and Nalin Pathirana, Managing Director, in August 2012 (Picture 1). During autumn 2012, the site for reforestation will be prepared for many more trees to be planted as the monsoon period arrives in November (Picture 2).

We will keep this page regularly updated with information and pictures regarding the carbon offset project. You can also read more about our CSR activities on Facebook.

November 2013

6000 trees planted - Tailor Store is 100% carbon neutral

Challenges are there to be overcome. With some delays, due to difficult weather conditions and heavy rains, we are now definately 100% carbon neutral. Needless to say we feel very good about this. 6000 trees have been planted in “our” rainforest in Sri Lanka. The trees need maintanance and protection to ensure that they survive the first critical years. This task is handled by Rainforest Rescue International Rainforest Rescue International Their man in the field is Mr. Gunasekara who is living close to the forest. His assignment is to monitor and guard the plants and clear the ground until the trees have grown big enough to establish a natural balance in line with the principles of analog forestry. This project contributes to offset the greenhouse gases and to build a sustainable world. We will regularaly visit the rainforest and publish updates on our wesite as well as on Facebook.

To the left: Mr. Nalin, Managing Director of Tailor Store International, proudly looking at one of the last trees planted to complete the rainforest project.

To the right: A Hal tree that within a few years will grow big and lock in several tons of carbon.

April 2013

Delay in the rain forest

Sometimes, things do not turn out exactly as they were intended. Sadly, we have been delayed with the planting of our rain forest in Sri Lanka. First of all, it has been more difficult than expected to clean up and prepare the soil for new plants. Furthermore, it has been unusually dry over the last few months, which required us to build a watering system for the newly planted trees. Because of a misunderstanding in communication with our local partners in Sri Lanka, we were convinced that the schedule was being followed, and all plants were in the ground by January as planned. This incorrect information was sadly stated on our website as well as on Facebook in February. We are truly sorry that false information was spread.

So here are the facts as of April 2013. 2,484 tree seedlings are in the ground. The soil is being prepared for the planting of 3,500 more plants, and according to the latest information we received from our partners, we plan to be finished with the planting in early June 2013. How fast work can be continued after that, is to some extent dependent on the weather and how much rain falls during the month of May. Further information regarding the state of the planting will be posted on our website as well as facebook.

The white line shows the zone where our rain forest is being planted. The vegetation shown on the image is lower shrubbery which has to be cleaned almost completely in order to give room for trees that are going to be planted

The planting of rain forest is an exciting project. For those of you who want more details, here is a list of the trees planted so far. The planting is done according to the principles of analog forestry which implies that only endemic species are planted, and a well-conceived plan on how the trees have to placed for the forest to grow strong in a natural way has been developed. The trees are planted to form different height layers that protect each other and make the trees grow strong and viable.

Name

Botanical namn

Canopy layer

Amount of plants

Atteriya

Orange jasine

Sub canopy

19

Atamba

Mangifera zeylanica

140

Badulla

Semecarpus spp

Canopy

20

Bambara ( Vine )

74

Bata domba

Syzygium operculatum

Sub canopy

104

Bedidel

Artocarpus nobilis

Canopy

135

Bombu

Symplocos cochinchinensis

Sub canopy

118

Bomiriya

Sub canopy

20

Bulu

Terminalia beralica

Canopy

13

Burutha

Chloroxyclon swietenia

Canopy

13

Dawata

Carallia brachiata

Sub canopy

207

Dodamkaha

Sub canopy

23

Domba

Calophyllum inophyllum

Canopy

51

Godapara

Dillenia retusa

Sub canopy

4

Gal veralu

Elaeocarpus subvillosus

Understory

14

Hal

Veteria copallifera

Canopy

46

Himbutu ( Vine )

Salacia prinoid

24

Hora

Dipterocarpus zeylanicus

Emergent

156

Hurulla

22

Indi

20

Jak

Artocarpus hetarophyllus

Canopy

44

Kekiriwara

Schumacheria castaneifolia

Understory

323

Kirihembiliya

Palaquium canaliculatum

Canopy

13

Kithul

Caryota urens

22

Madatiya

Adenanthera pavonina

Canopy

31

Mahajambu

Sub canopy

11

Mango

Mangifera indica

Canopy

72

Mee

Madhuca longifolia

Canopy

9

Mendora

Stemonocarpus petiolaris

Canopy

22

Milla

Vitex altissima

Canopy

22

Mora

Dimocarpus longan

Canopy

101

Munamal

Mimusops elengi

Canopy

23

Na

Mesua nagassarium

Canopy

18

Otha

14

Panukera

Syzygium neesianum

Sub canopy

10

Pawatta

Tusticia adhatoda

Understory

21

Pelen

Bhesa ceylanica

Canopy

146

Rambutan

Nephelium lappaceum

Canopy

30

Ruk

Horsfieldia iryaghedhi

Canopy

112

Sudubambara ( Vine )

Dalbergia pseudo-sissoo

12

Thiniyadun

Shorea trapezifolia

Emergent

7

Uguduhal

Symplocos coronata

Sub canopy

9

Uru honda

Urandra apicalis

Sub canopy

2

Wal uguressa

Sub canopy

6

Walu kina

Calophullum bracteatum

Subcanopy

65

Wal waraka

Sub canopy

83

Welwat apple

Canopy

17

Weniwel

Coscinium fenestratum

Vine

16

Below there are some images of trees that have been planted so far.

1. This picture shows product manager Louise planting a tree together with Mr
Gunasekara.
2. The project's team (from left to right): Ruwan, Satis, Louise, Jan, Isuru, Charith,
Head Priest Ambelegedara and Gunasekara

January 2013

The rainforest is growing

Last November, we took the next big step in our CO2-compensation project and
planted about 6000 plants. The growing of these plants took about two months,
and by the end of January, we had all the trees planted in the soil. When we were
in Tawalama and helped planting the forest back in November, we talked a lot to
the members of the project team. It was interesting to hear how the experts of
Rainforest Rescue International resonated when planting the trees. They stated that
the allocation of the different types of trees is a crucial factor because the trees
will grow into different heights which will have them protect each other and help
the forest to grow strong. We met Mr Gunasekara, who lives close to "our" forest,
and will be the person to nurse and take care of it during the next years. His work
includes watching the plants and helping them to grow fine in the future as well.

Beside Mr Gunasekara, we also met the project leader of RRI, Mr Ruwan, as well as
a monk who lives directly next to the forest. The monk, Head Priest Ambelegedara,
showed a large interest and commitment to our forest growing strong, not only
because of it absorbing carbon dioxide but also being a natural habitat for animals
and plants to develop and live in. Being at the site and helping to plant the trees
ourselves together with our local partners driving the project was an impressive and
positive experience. Their knowledge and experience shows in their commitment to
sustainability in general as well as to this local rainforest in particular.

Customer service

Tailor Store International (pvt) Ltd, producer of our garments and subsidiary of Tailor Store Sweden AB, has been certified according to GOTS since June 2010 by Control Unions Certifications with address P.O. Box 161, 8000 AD Zwolle, The Netherlands. The license number is CU 814918. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards) is an international standard for production of textiles with organically grown fibers and covers both environmental as well as social standards. It is verified by independent certification of the entire chain of production, from farmer to finished garment. Read more...